UPDATED: Long Beach woman, mother to face charges for abandoned baby story

LONG BEACH — A 28-year-old Long Beach woman and her mother face criminal charges for concocting a story about an abandoned baby, police said today.

The investigation began late Monday, when a woman called 911 and claimed she had found a baby girl dumped at a local gas station, said Sgt. Rico Fernandez, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman.

Investigators quickly gleaned that the woman had been given the baby by her daughter, who had given birth to the child at a local home earlier in the day, Fernandez said.

"The mother said her daughter told her she found the baby and she didn't know what to do with it," Fernandez said.

Authorities found the daughter driving around the area of the gas station and stopped her.

She admitted she had given birth to the child, but due to personal issues she didn't think she could properly care for the child and took it to her mom, the sergeant said.

"She apparently didn't realize she was pregnant until she went into labor," he said, noting the child was being cared for at a local hospital today.

LBPD detectives were also working on their case today and plan to file it with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office by today or Wednesday, Fernandez said.

The 28-year-old mother faces a possible charge of felony child endangerment while her mother faces a possible charge of obstruction, Fernandez said.

It wasn't clear if either woman was aware of the county's Safe Surrender program, which under state law allows for infants 72 hours old or younger to be surrendered at any hospital emergency room, police station or fire station without the risk of criminal prosecution.

"Incidents like what occurred in Long Beach are a reminder to Mothers that there is always an option for their baby," County Supervisor Don Knabe said in a statement. "The Safe Surrender program was created to give a Mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment: No shame, No blame, and No names. I am very happy to hear that the infant is safe and has a second chance at life and hope for a bright future."